Call to Worship – Lamentations 3:21–26

LEADER:
Let us call to mind the reason for our hope:
because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”

CONGREGATION:
The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;
it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

Your Grace Is Enough
Words and Music by Matt Maher
© 2003 ThankYou Music; spiritandsong.com

Great is your faithfulness, oh God
You wrestle with the sinner’s restless heart
You lead me by still waters into mercy
Where nothing can keep us apart

Remember your people
Remember your children
Remember your promise, oh God

Your grace is enough
Your grace is enough
Your grace is enough
Your grace is enough for me

Great is your love and justice, God of Jacob
You use the weak to lead the strong
You lead us in the song of Heaven’s Victory
And all your people sing along

Ira Sankey, good friend of hymn author Fanny Crosby, once related this story about the comfort “Blessed Assurance” provides:

“‘During the recent war in the Transvaal,’ said a gentleman at my meeting in Exeter Hall, London, in 1900, ‘when the soldiers going to the front were passing another company whom they recognized, their greetings used to be, “Four-nine-four, boys; four-nine-four;” and the salute would invariably be answered with “Six further on, boys; six further on.” The significance of this was that, in ‘Sacred Songs and Solos,’ a number of copies of the small edition of which had been sent to the front, number 494 was ‘God be with you till we meet again’; and six further on than 494, or number 500, was ‘Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine’” (My Life and Sacred Songs, 69).

From the very day she wrote them, Crosby’s words have provided comfort for millions of Christians in the face of fear, persecution, sorrow, and doubt. In spite of all the trials that may come, we know that we serve a Savior who came to bring the Kingdom of God on earth, and as we serve Him, we participate in, and belong to, that Kingdom. We each play our own part in that “glorious foretaste” of what is still to come. We belong to Christ and his Kingdom – what an assurance this is!

Blessed Assurance
Words by Fanny J. Crosby; Music by Phoebe P. Knapp

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.

This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior, all the day long;
this is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight,
visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
angels descending, bring from above
echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
watching and waiting, looking above,
filled with his goodness, lost in his love.

Only King Forever
Words and Music by Chris Brown, Mack Brock, Steven Furtick, and Wade Joye
© 2013 Be Essential Songs and Elevation Worship Publishing

Our God, a firm foundation
Our rock, the only solid ground
As nations rise and fall
Kingdoms once strong now shaken
But we trust forever in your name
The name of Jesus We trust the name of Jesus

You are the only King forever
Almighty God we lift You higher
You are the only King forever
Forevermore, you are victorious

Unmatched in all your wisdom
In love and justice you will reign
Every knee will bow
We bring our expectations
Our hope is anchored in your name
The name of Jesus, we trust the name of Jesus

We lift our banner high
We lift the name of Jesus
From age to age you reign
Your kingdom has no end

Titus 2:11–13 tell us,

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self–controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ . . .”

The life of faith in Jesus allows us to enjoy the peace and “blessed assurance” of God’s hand upon us as we walk through our earthly lives and allows us to have a “foretaste of glory divine”, the confidence that there is something coming, that God has prepared a place for us after this life has passed.

10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)
Words and Music by Matt Redman and Jonas Myrin
© 2011 Atlas Mountain Songs; sixsteps Music; ThankYou Music; worshiptogether.com songs

Bless the Lord O my soul, O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before, O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name

The sun comes up it's a new day dawning
It's time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes

You're rich in love and You're slow to anger
Your name is great and Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find

And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Still my soul will sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years and then forevermore

Offering Prayer

Offertory:
Amazing Grace (instrumental)
Words and Music by John Newton (1779)

Prayer of Illumination

Lord, open our hearts and minds by the power of your Holy Spirit, that, as the Scriptures are read and your Word proclaimed, we may hear with joy what you say to us today. Amen.

Sermon

The Lord’s Supper

[instrumental music played or congregational singing]

The Mystery of the Faith

And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ's offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith.

Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again!

Who am I that the highest King would welcome me
I was lost but He brought me in, oh His love for me
Oh His love for me

Who the Son sets free oh is free indeed
I'm a child of God, yes I am

Free at last He has ransomed me His grace runs deep
While I was a slave to sin Jesus died for me
Yes He died for me

Who the Son sets free oh is free indeed
I'm a child of God, yes I am
In my Father's house there's a place for me
I'm a child of God, yes I am

I am chosen, not forsaken
I am who You say I am
You are for me, not against me
I am who You say I am

Benediction

As you go from this place, remember these words from Psalm 93: Our God reigns! He is robed with majesty and armed with strength. His kingdom is from everlasting to everlasting. He holds our world and our lives securely. So do not be afraid, but go from here with confidence, knowing that the God who goes with you is greater and more powerful than anything else you will face this week.